High and low temperatures are relative terms. For electronics, traditional silicon-based devices are generally limited to temperatures below 125°C for reliable operation. High temperature electronics may then be considered to be electronic devices and packaging in which operating temperatures are beyond this standard temperature. Currently, the term high temperature often refers to requirements in the range 200-400°C.
See the table below for a relative comparison of semiconductor technology temperature tolerances. High temperature applications can be found in 'Where are high temperature electronics used?'
| Material | Tech maturity | Temp tolerance (°C) |
|---|
| Silicon (Si) |
Very high |
125-250 |
| Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) |
Medium |
250-300 |
| Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) |
High |
350 |
| Gallium Nitride (GaN) |
Very low |
>500 |
| Silicon Carbide (SiC) |
Low |
>750 |
| Diamond |
Very low |
>800 |
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